Tells the story of a young couple, Shizuko and Itaru Ina, who responded to the loss of their civil liberties by renouncing their American citizenship during their 4 1/2 year internment during World War II, who committed their hopes for their children's future to a better life in Japan. Based on personal documents that detail a daily accounting of life and private emotional upheaval during incarceration, separation and reunification. Interviews with other Japanese speaking former internees who ultimately sought refuge from their imprisonment by declaring their loyalty to Japan present disturbing disclosures of unjustified treatment and suffering.Ler mais...

Resumo:

Tells the story of a young couple, Shizuko and Itaru Ina, who responded to the loss of their civil liberties by renouncing their American citizenship during their 4 1/2 year internment during World War II, who committed their hopes for their children's future to a better life in Japan. Based on personal documents that detail a daily accounting of life and private emotional upheaval during incarceration, separation and reunification. Interviews with other Japanese speaking former internees who ultimately sought refuge from their imprisonment by declaring their loyalty to Japan present disturbing disclosures of unjustified treatment and suffering.

Críticas

Satsuki Ina was born in an internment camp in 1944. After discovering letters exchanged between her parents while they were held in separate camps, she began to piece together parts of her familyâs history which her parents had never discussed.

Satsuki Ina was born in an internment camp in 1944. After discovering letters exchanged between her parents while they were held in separate camps, she began to piece together parts of her familyâs history which her parents had never discussed.

Through excerpts of letters, journal entries, and haikus written at the time, as well as newspaper clippings, archival photographs and film footage, and a few dramatic recreations, this documentary is able to reconstruct the story of Inaâs parents and the 120,000 others who were detained by the U.S. government because of their Japanese heritageâboth legal aliens and U.S. citizens. While interned in the prison camps, without legal representation or the right of due process, they were asked to answer a loyalty questionnaire. When Inaâs parents protested and demanded their legal rights, they were accused by the FBI of being disloyal and sent to a separate camp for enemy aliens. This film explores their feelings of betrayal and creates a genuine understanding of why and how they chose to renounce their citizenship.

Although, at 57 minutes, the film feels a little longer than it needs to be, the editing and technical aspects are well done. The narration is in English, with translations of written Japanese provided when necessary. Unfortunately, the DVD itself is designed to work like a VHS tape in that there are no chapter breaksâthe only way to move through the program is fast forward or rewindâand, while there is a version of the DVD available with Japanese subtitles, I suspect they are âhardâ subtitles.

Highly recommended for high school, college, and general audiences.

Awards

Best Director Documentary, New York International Independent Film & Video Festival

"Tells the story of a young couple, Shizuko and Itaru Ina, who responded to the loss of their civil liberties by renouncing their American citizenship during their 4 1/2 year internment during World War II, who committed their hopes for their children's future to a better life in Japan. Based on personal documents that detail a daily accounting of life and private emotional upheaval during incarceration, separation and reunification. Interviews with other Japanese speaking former internees who ultimately sought refuge from their imprisonment by declaring their loyalty to Japan present disturbing disclosures of unjustified treatment and suffering."@en